I have been playing mandolin for a couple years and am thinking of getting another mandolin. I play a Kimble A-Style with F-holes right now. Beautiful instrument. Great, open sound. Wonderful tone. It's really opened up nicely in the year I've had it.
But I've been considering a more mellow toned instrument a bit less aimed at bluegrass and a bit more towards Irish music. Potentially an old oval-holed Gibson.
I recently played Roger Landes' Stephen Owsley Smith's mandolin and fell in love. Deep, rich tone. As responsive as my Kimble and yet significantly lighter. Amazing instrument. Naturally Steve Smith is currently not taking orders (please correct me if you know differently).
I'm not all that familiar with the less bluegrass-aimed mandolin makers.
Any suggestions? Anyone know what Andy Irvine plays? I like the tone of his very much.
Re: Mando for Irish Music: Looking for Suggestions
As an aspiring maker myself, I would say, if you have a bit of money to spend, seek out a maker in your area and buy yourself a good hand-made instrument. True, the big names have not earned themselves the reputations they have without producing high quality instruments, but there are many excellent makers out there who haven't quite made it.
Personally, I prefer a flat (not carved) topped instrument with a central soundhole. That said, I think Stefan Sobell's instruments have carved tops. It's all down to personal preference.
Re: Mando for Irish Music: Looking for Suggestions
I find you get a better sustain out of an f hole. I play a Lebeda F5 and much prefer if to the oval hole I was playing before for ITM. Each to their own though, I guess. I know where you're coming from.
I suppose that It's all down to the money you want to/are prepared to fork out, isn't it? I assume you're going to spend a bit cos you're looking at vintage Gibsons.
Personally, if I could afford to buy a vintage Gibson I would. In fact if I still had a grandmother I sell her to get one... maybe one day, eh?
Re Andy Irvine, you might want to look at www.sobellinstruments.com.
Good luck.
Re: Mando for Irish Music: Looking for Suggestions
Keyton,
I have 2 good mandolins -a 10 string Sobell and a 1912 oval hole Gibson. They sound quite different from each other, and yet both seem to be considered to be good 'Celtic' mandolins.
I am not really convinced by the notion that oval holes are better than anything else for Celtic. I'm inclined to think that a well- made mandolin which is good for bluegrass would be more than adequate for Celtic music.
From previous communications you and I have had, I think if you found a mandolin which you found much easier to play Celtic music on than your present one, then you might consider buying that, regardless of whether it's meant to be good for Celtic or not. Your playing would improve, and I would say that was more important.
Good bluegrass mandolins are probably also good for cutting through in a session, which I would say is very important, as mandolins (including oval-hole Gibsons) can often be too quiet. In other words, I would stick with your Kimble until something comes along and you think 'I've got to have that!.' I'm sure you'll know when it happens.
Re: Mando for Irish Music: Looking for Suggestions
Roger's SOS is a great instrument. I have seen a couple of other SOS mandolins and they are equally wonderful. Steve is not taking orders right now, but if he did, there is a 5-6 year wait. Davy Stuart makes a nice instrument and his prices are around the best for a luthier made instrument. You might also check out Tony Sutherland. Tony lives in Taos and makes really nice instruments and he does not have a long waiting list. I played a mandolin he made last year and it was excellent.
Re: Mando for Irish Music: Looking for Suggestions
You can still find very good quality old A style Gibsons (1920-1940 vintage) for $800-$1000 in the US. The old Gibsons have very deep rich full low tones for the G and D strings and sparkly highs on the A and E. Certain instruments may have been mistreated (i e kept in attics or basements without being played) so check out the instrument very carefully before you buy it. Old Gibsons also have the deficiency of sometimes not holding accurate tunings above the 6th fret , and having tuning pegs wont to slip. On the other hand, a new A style will have a radiused fretboard option, which does seem to make for faster playing of rapid cascades of notes...
I have a 1913 Gibson A , a handmade Pomeroy A, and a Collings F. The Gibson is a fine choice for most Irish stuff.
Mando for Irish Music: Looking for Suggestions
Mando for Irish Music: Looking for Suggestions
Greetings All,
I have been playing mandolin for a couple years and am thinking of getting another mandolin. I play a Kimble A-Style with F-holes right now. Beautiful instrument. Great, open sound. Wonderful tone. It's really opened up nicely in the year I've had it.
But I've been considering a more mellow toned instrument a bit less aimed at bluegrass and a bit more towards Irish music. Potentially an old oval-holed Gibson.
I recently played Roger Landes' Stephen Owsley Smith's mandolin and fell in love. Deep, rich tone. As responsive as my Kimble and yet significantly lighter. Amazing instrument. Naturally Steve Smith is currently not taking orders (please correct me if you know differently).
I'm not all that familiar with the less bluegrass-aimed mandolin makers.
Any suggestions? Anyone know what Andy Irvine plays? I like the tone of his very much.
Thank you!
Keyton
# Posted on March 20th 2005 by keytonw
Re: Mando for Irish Music: Looking for Suggestions
Old oval-holed Gibsons are a good way to go. In general I think oval-holed instruments are better for ITM, though opinions vary on this.
Andy Irvine has recently been playing a custom-made Davy Stuart mando; he has played a Sobell mando too, as well as other Sobell instruments.
I recall some other threads re the same question fairly recently--try searching the Discussions archives too.
# Posted on March 20th 2005 by tedium
Re: Mando for Irish Music: Looking for Suggestions
As an aspiring maker myself, I would say, if you have a bit of money to spend, seek out a maker in your area and buy yourself a good hand-made instrument. True, the big names have not earned themselves the reputations they have without producing high quality instruments, but there are many excellent makers out there who haven't quite made it.
Personally, I prefer a flat (not carved) topped instrument with a central soundhole. That said, I think Stefan Sobell's instruments have carved tops. It's all down to personal preference.
# Posted on March 20th 2005 by ragaman
Re: Mando for Irish Music: Looking for Suggestions
www.mandolincafe has a list of small shop builders but before ordering play everything you can get your hands on.
# Posted on March 20th 2005 by Cuso
Re: Mando for Irish Music: Looking for Suggestions
I find you get a better sustain out of an f hole. I play a Lebeda F5 and much prefer if to the oval hole I was playing before for ITM. Each to their own though, I guess. I know where you're coming from.
I suppose that It's all down to the money you want to/are prepared to fork out, isn't it? I assume you're going to spend a bit cos you're looking at vintage Gibsons.
Personally, if I could afford to buy a vintage Gibson I would. In fact if I still had a grandmother I sell her to get one... maybe one day, eh?
Re Andy Irvine, you might want to look at www.sobellinstruments.com.
Good luck.
# Posted on March 20th 2005 by tommy_wintle
Re: Mando for Irish Music: Looking for Suggestions
I play a Martin 1921 (style C ). For me it's the perfect mandolin for Irish Music. Loud an clear, easy to play, pure aestetic...
Very similar to
http://home.comcast.net/~ukecat/mandolin/mandos/29martic.gif
# Posted on March 20th 2005 by Emmanuel Delahaye
Re: Mando for Irish Music: Looking for Suggestions
Keyton,
I have 2 good mandolins -a 10 string Sobell and a 1912 oval hole Gibson. They sound quite different from each other, and yet both seem to be considered to be good 'Celtic' mandolins.
I am not really convinced by the notion that oval holes are better than anything else for Celtic. I'm inclined to think that a well- made mandolin which is good for bluegrass would be more than adequate for Celtic music.
From previous communications you and I have had, I think if you found a mandolin which you found much easier to play Celtic music on than your present one, then you might consider buying that, regardless of whether it's meant to be good for Celtic or not. Your playing would improve, and I would say that was more important.
Good bluegrass mandolins are probably also good for cutting through in a session, which I would say is very important, as mandolins (including oval-hole Gibsons) can often be too quiet. In other words, I would stick with your Kimble until something comes along and you think 'I've got to have that!.' I'm sure you'll know when it happens.
BTW, I've sent your package.
Cheers,
Dagger Gordon.
# Posted on March 21st 2005 by CWGordon
Re: Mando for Irish Music: Looking for Suggestions
Roger's SOS is a great instrument. I have seen a couple of other SOS mandolins and they are equally wonderful. Steve is not taking orders right now, but if he did, there is a 5-6 year wait. Davy Stuart makes a nice instrument and his prices are around the best for a luthier made instrument. You might also check out Tony Sutherland. Tony lives in Taos and makes really nice instruments and he does not have a long waiting list. I played a mandolin he made last year and it was excellent.
# Posted on March 22nd 2005 by John Conoboy
Re: Mando for Irish Music: Looking for Suggestions
You can still find very good quality old A style Gibsons (1920-1940 vintage) for $800-$1000 in the US. The old Gibsons have very deep rich full low tones for the G and D strings and sparkly highs on the A and E. Certain instruments may have been mistreated (i e kept in attics or basements without being played) so check out the instrument very carefully before you buy it. Old Gibsons also have the deficiency of sometimes not holding accurate tunings above the 6th fret , and having tuning pegs wont to slip. On the other hand, a new A style will have a radiused fretboard option, which does seem to make for faster playing of rapid cascades of notes...
I have a 1913 Gibson A , a handmade Pomeroy A, and a Collings F. The Gibson is a fine choice for most Irish stuff.
# Posted on March 24th 2005 by sailaway